Posted on 05/05/2005 10:48:38 AM PDT by AgentEcho
Retired Army Col. David Hackworth, a decorated Vietnam veteran who spoke out against the war and later became a journalist and an advocate for military reform, died Wednesday in Mexico, where he was receiving treatment for bladder cancer, his wife said. He was 74.
"He died in my arms yesterday morning," his wife, Eilhys England, said Thursday.
Hackworth, a syndicated columnist for King Features, advocated a streamlined military and improved conditions for troops.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
Hack was an honorable and courageous soldier.
He did't tolerate bs from anyone.
There aren't many people that would be worthy of shining his boots.
There are far far fewer that could even begin to fill them.
Salute!
May he rest in peace.
Thanks for the service of a soldier.
Thanks for the service of a soldier.
No, he was born Nov. 11 1930, Fittingly on Armistist/Veteran's day. However he joined the Merchant Marine at 14 and managed to enlist in the Army at 15. I don't think he actually fought in WW-II. He did serve in Korea, where he earned a battlefield commission as well as in Vietnam.
He declared that latter war "Unwinable" in 1971, about the same time as another officer was doing the same, although Hack never accused his people of war crimes.
The Tiger Force medic, who is now a retired SF E-8 living in Maine, (Whose son is a SF O-3 in SEA) says Hackworth was bad news, really bad news.
Says his HDD,ROM charge was responsible for the 1LT's death, the one Hack so publicly grieved over, and blamed others for. Medic was, by Hack's orders, "right next to him" and saw Hackworth's lips move and heard the words into the PRC25 handset that ordered the charge.
Read his book only about 10 years ago. Started to love it, but when Hack bragged about how many EM he would beat up to enforce his orders, then I'm asking myself; "How come he had to beat the troops to get his men to follow him."
A leader leads with leadership, and from the front, not his fists in some stateside supply room.
Did he serve? Yes.
Was brave? Probably
Was he an AH? Probably.
Is the self-promoted legend bigger than the reality? Atsa Rog!
A great soldier and an American hero who stood up and forcefully proclaimed what he believed in, no matter the consequences. RIP.
74? He fought in WWII. 84 is more like it."""No, he lied about his age to get into the military during WWII. He entered at 15 or something like that. Also, I believe, was in the merchant marine at an illegally young age.
The same thing could be said of certain FReepers, especially those with enormous, undocumented profiles. Leave it alone today.
Prayers for his soul and for his friends and family.
RIP, Colonel Hackworth.
We didn't see eye to eye on a lot of things, but he was a good man nonetheless and served honorably when the need arose.
He was lucky to get into the Army at 15 given the fact that WWII ended in August 1945 and there was a huge demobilization going on. The Merchant Marine started recruiting 16 year olds in May 1944 U.S. Maritime Service to Accept 16 Year Olds for Training
No argument.
I agree with you. Too many get misguided by the desire to be loved by the Press. I think Hack fell into this category. While I know he is at peace, there will be one less critic of the War.
I think his problem was that his attitudes toward military brass and their political leaders did not change after he left active duty. He never adapted his thought paradigm to reflect changes that he had a lot to do with. He had no concept of how much things had actually changed after Reagan rebuilt the military. I think he was stuck in Vietnam mode.
He puzzled me too. Maybe his illness had something to do with it. He was definitely a hero.
RIP
God bless him, I hope he has finally found peace.
..and we lost another Brother.
redrock
Probably for the same reason so many cancer patients go to Mexico. A last ditch effort to find a cure.
My nephew took his wife all over the USA and then to Mexico, trying for anything to cure her cancer. It's sad. There are so many clinics in Mexico who make all these promises that they have a miracle cure.
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